Tweet This!

welcome

November 27, 2017

Small Business Saturday was a day like any other. We had over two-hundred people shop small! Never in my wildest dreams, would I ever imagine, but we more than doubled our sales from last year!

Thank you for your support, and shopping small.

You've heard all the reasons to encourage you to shop small.

As a small business owner, I believe shopping small really gives back in many different economical ways.

My phone died early on, otherwise I would have captured the other hundreds of happy shop small customers.

I did have enough shots to create the collage.

These two little guys sum it all up! Aren't they adorable?

Again, thank you, thank you.

We sold out of certain things fast!

I'm working round the clock to fill the gaping holes at the shop. Last minute manufacturing orders have went in, and wholesale suppliers are speedily shipping their merchandise, so that Bittersweet can keep providing you with fresh new goods, every week!

November 24, 2017

The past couple of years, and we've purchased a real Christmas tree. There's just something special about a aromatic Fir! In between, and right before Thanksgiving, we picked up our live tree at the home improvement store. Who would have ever thought?

It's balmy and unseasonable warm today, short weather! This day they call Black Friday. I've never experience the craziness of black Friday, nor do I have any incline of doing so. I'm guessing there's a reason they have named the day "Black Friday." The name itself sheds light on the day. At least, that's what I believe. I'm also not a fan of crowds, so not my bag.

Speaking of bags...

Tomorrow is Small Business Saturday!

I'm busy at the Bittersweet workshop churning out Marshmallow Lip Balm, Lemon Nail Creme, Fizzy Balls, and Face Creme, in preparation of Shop Small Day in Liberty Missouri.

I am in love with faux fur, anything, lately. Love, love these crossover furry bags! New this week.

In addition, warm and wooly imported scarves.

I hope Santa brings you coal this Christmas. For the good girls and boys, not the bad.

One of the elves made a surprise visit earlier today and picked up five hundred Soap and Lip Balms for Santa's list. I'm always thrilled when Santa reads off his list over the phone, and Bittersweet is included! Thanks Santa for delivering the uncommon goods all over the world.

November 21, 2017

My blessings runneth over...I guess it's not politically correct to use the word blessing. A few days ago I happened upon a post that told about a high school project that allowed the students to create posters that reflect their beliefs. The poster contained these three words...

photo courtesy of pinterest

The student was told she could not use the word blessing when creating her poster because the word was associated with God. For me, the word is associated with God, simply because I believe in God. I was curious what the legal definition of the word was, so I looked it up.

noun

Blessing is defined as God's favor, or a person's sanction or support, or something you ask God for, or something for which you are grateful.

When God looks down upon you and protects you, this is an example of God's blessing.

When a father OKs a marriage proposal, this is an example of when he gives his blessing.

When you pray to God and ask to be held in good favor, this is an example of when you seek God's blessing.

When you are thankful to have your child, this is an example of when your child is a blessing.

How can something be so wrong, that is so right?

I ask you...

Whether you believe as I, or have other beliefs, I honor them, and most of all respect them.

Our world is a big place,filled with humans of all race, religion, and cultures.

If you wish to create a poster that represent your beliefs, you have that right as an American.

I live in America... I am an American. I respect all religions. I treat other's the way I wish to be treated. I do not discriminate against other's, in any way, shape or form. However, I do believe in blessings, and the meaning of the word. When I tell someone to have a blessed day, I'm referencing that my God, Jehovah, bless them with good, and love, and happiness.

While other's debate the subject of whether its's safe to say the word blessing. I will continue to applaud the word, and use it freely with the intention of making someone feel comforted and to let them know I care. After all, love shall conquer all. If not today, someday...

November 15, 2017

Just back from a walk and the smell of fall echoes through the crisp air. My neighbor down the street was mowing his leaves as we walked by, and on the way back home the scent of woodsy leaves filled the air. I love that smell! There's no way of recreating the scent except by Mother nature.

Even though we're moving fast speed ahead into the holiday season at the shop, I'm still relishing Autumn leaf by pumpkin, by leaf... We have a buckeye tree down the street, and this time of year their horny shells pop open to release the good luck charm.

My aunt Vivian writes me little letters, and I always enjoy reading. Her perspective on life is a healthy one. I'm blessed to have such a great aunt!

We still have rose buds on the roses & blooms, along with the Hearty Geraniums. The fish are as fat as ever, & have stopped eating since the water temps. are below 52 degrees. Our little, yellow finches have flown south, but other winter birds are here eating Niger seeds very happy bathing in the sun. I spend a lot of time removing leaves that continue to fall in profusion from the wisteria & the apricot tree. Each leaf is a wonder & appreciated for the beauty it offers.

Little things really do mean a lot.

The past few days, and I've been feeling grateful for many things, and many things over. My heart has been broke over hearing the loss of a friends, daughter unexpectedly and sudden.

Any more, I have learned to live one day at a time, simply because there's no guarantee another will come.

The shop is busier than ever, and I'm anticipating a record group of new customers this holiday season.

Oh how I really love making Alice Bracelets! It makes my heart happy when a customer picks through to pick their favorite.

The hand made Italian paper made it's way to America! I'm wrapping Five Golden Rings, and Six Gees A Laying. I'm not going to offer the soaps on line because I can't keep up with inventory. We sell out, almost as fast as they land!

Quiet evening...

Last night we cooked a roast and I prepared a rub for it similar to that you'd put on ribs. It was the best roast I've ever made! Here's the rub recipe.

Ingredients

3 Tbsp garlic powder

2 Tbsp salt

2 Tbsp Ground Black pepper

1 tsp chili powder

½ tsp cumin

I added a couple of Tablespoons of dried onion

Instructions

Mix all of the ingredients together. Use 1-2 tablespoons of a dry rub for each pound of meat. Apply the rub directly to the surface of the meat. Place roast in crock pot and cook for desired time. Sooo good!

I served it with brussel sprouts. I use several handfuls of fresh brussel sprouts. Wash them and cut off the ends, halve. Place sprouts in an olive oil coated pan. Add a teaspoon of fresh garlic, smoked salt, and fresh ground pepper. I like to cook mine until they get kind of crispy on the edges. They are so easy, and really good prepared this way.

November 10, 2017

Who knew? That a Calling Bird is rather a Colly Bird! I sure didn't, and to know all these years when I sang the Twelve Days of Christmas, I should have been singing "Colly Birds."

Here's the proof, professor....If that's not enough, there's plenty more articles about Colly Birds, or black birds. H'm, reminds me of a Paul McCartney song, Black birds singin' in the dead of night...Plus a meaning behind those lyrics... Love songs with meanings behind them! Only waiting for this moment to be free!

Way to go Sir Paul!

Across the pond, and I'm pondering the word WOWZA to describe the shopping crowds! I've wrapped three hundred bars of soap in the past two days, and only a few thousand to go, before we get a wrap on things. No pun intended.

Hand made Italian paper, I long for your arrival! Maybe this year, possibly next. I guess there's a strike going on in Italy among the delivery drivers. I've wrapped one - four with generic holiday papers, and hoping the shipment will soon arrive.

Bittersweet quadruples our manufacturing this time of year. What's the number for five times over? Quintuples! That's the mindset.

Putting together a lineup of my favorite Bittersweets. I'm a tough critic since I make it all. The word fastidious comes to mind. I love that old fashioned word! Do you remember hearing it in Little Women. "My sister Beth is a very fastidious girl." That's the first time I ever recall hearing the word. I use it a lot in conversation, because it's an interesting word.

November 05, 2017

My weary heart... No words can describe my deep sadness. Praying for the victims of the Texas Church shooting.

Life goes on, but it's never the same, ever.

We had an amazing turnout for our Holiday Affair. I'm guesstimating close to one-hundred and thirty people. I had to skip lunch, because it was non stop at the register. Thank you! Bittersweet is growing, leaps and bounds. I've forever grateful for this. A dream come true.

We began sneaking in some holiday decor at our home sweet home. I've been working on Holiday Soiree postcards, and beginning to ponder happy holiday thoughts. I love Christmas! I love Winter too!

The home improvement store has Norfolk Pines in stock. I was so happy when I discovered them early week.

The Twelve Days of Christmas is arriving at the shop. I'm not sure we'll offer the popular soaps on our web site this season. We're selling more soap at our brick and mortar, and a limited supply is available. Since it takes six weeks to cure, time is of the essence.

Our hustle and bustle has arrived much earlier than ever. I do believe the word is getting out about this artisan shop. Folks are yearning for one of a kind, quality, specialty gifts. Look no further than Bittersweet Soap and Apothecary.

A local news station poked their head in Thursday evening, and gifted Bittersweet with a live interview. Thank you Joe Lauria for being such a gentlemen and amazing interviewer!

At the last moment, right before we went live, I decided to showcase Bittersweets custom fragrance station. On Saturday, I mixed a variety of custom dry oil blends, and bath salts for folks that had seen the interview. Merci...

We're stocking new items every week, and keeping the apothecary shop alive, festive, and filled with good cheer!

October 29, 2017

Bittersweet is preparing for a three day Holiday Affair. We're serving apple cider and confections. The tree trimmings have been cut and the scent of fresh cedar fills the shop air. It's so darn early, but our little downtown is hosting a holiday open house at all the shops, so we didn't want to be a stick in the mud! Our big holiday event is always held on the first Friday of December. This year, it's on the first and second of the month.

We're making a big pot of chicken gumbo, and buttermilk biscuits are on the menu. I haven't had white flour in months or refined sugar. I'll make the biscuits with King Arthur baking mix. The mix contains much less carbs than white flour. I don't believe anyone will notice. Patrick is coming to dinner, and has requested biscuits. I probably won't be able to resist a hot flaky biscuit smothered in butter. Would you?

I don't really follow a recipe. I begin by a adding a T. of butter to a large kettle. Then I add a cup of chopped onion, and green pepper. Several cloves of Spanish garlic. Simmer. Add a T. of flour and let cook all until flour turns a golden brown. This is your rue.

To that I add enough water to cook the chicken and even add chicken broth to the kettle for good measure. Some folks prefer adding sausage to the chicken gumbo. I prefer, just chicken. Sometimes we'll add shrimp, but Patrick is allergic to shellfish.

Cook the chicken until if begins to fall off the bone. The bones of the chicken give the gumbo a great flavor. Midway, and before the chicken is completely cooked I add a large can of whole tomatoes. Continue to cook the chicken on medium heat or a slow boil with the added tomatoes. I add a healthy dose of dried thyme and oregano, and a large bay leaf. Continue to cook on low heat. Add smoked salt, and fresh ground pepper. De bone chicken and return to the kettle. Simmer on low for a couple of hours. About thirty minutes before serving add a cup of okra. Fresh or frozen. Add a few drops of hot sauce and serve with rice. I like Jasmine Rice.

Lazy, hazy, day... Those kind of days are truly appreciated when one carries a heavy work schedule.

I'm anxiously awaiting a shipment of hand made Italian paper to arrive before Wednesday. We wrap our Holiday Soaps in the stunning paper. Since we're hosting a Holiday Affair next week, time is of the essence, and I have a sneaky feeling the last minute will be a busy wrapping soapathon! It is what it is and life shall go on, regardless.

I'm also on the hunt for a Norlfolk Pine. I'm usually not on the hunt so early in the season, therefor nobody has them stocked. I love displaying the little pine during the Christmas season. It's a happy little tree!

I'm fixating on caramel apples too! Maybe next weekend after the busy week.

We offer preserved cedar sprigs at the shop. The everlasting evergreens will last a lifetime! I've had mine for eight or nine years. Simply store it in plastic bags until ready to use. It doesn't crumble or dry out or leave a mess. It's one of my favorite things.

I gathered a large basket of white pine cones. I love these pine cones. I hang string from the stems and make banners of pine cones. No cost decorating for the season. Incorporate the cones, and greenery to your brown paper wrappings and you have a simple, no fuss, elegant look.

Years ago when my mom was still here, she suggested I make linen bags to hold bath salt. All these year later, and I felt a soulful urge to recreate them this season. Love the linen blended with the faux fur and white pine cones.

October 17, 2017

No more Pumpkin Spice Soap! Well, I believe there may be two bars left at the shop. I might nab them! I'm not a huge pumpkin spice fan simply because the scent can smell different depending on the fragrance manufacture. I love ours! It could be possible I'm a little biased, as well.

That sugary pound cake sitting with little hand made marshmallow bags was a holiday treat a few years back. I printed an adorable Susan Branch recipe on the label. I contacted Susan for permission to use her art work, and she replied with the nicest response. You know, she's something special! That holiday season, I made the homemade marshmallows and also mixed homemade cocoa. The recipe was really good. Since I don't do a lot of processed sugar anymore, those were the days! It does make a really nice gift. Here's a great recipe. I love Alton Brown! Here's his homemade marshmallow recipe. I will share that I'm not a fan of gelatin. I used agar agar powder.

I located some French inspired grain sack fabric from a supplier, and modified the bittersweet heat pillow. Love, love the grainy fabric!

Since I've made the holiday collection of soap, now it's time to find resting places for the thousands of bars. I'm loading up my car with all those soap bars and placing them in every nook available.

I'm on the hunt for a Norfolk Pine... They usually stock them around this time of year. That will be our Christmas tree at the shop.

October 14, 2017

The wayward wind is a restless wind, a restless wind that yearns to wander... I always found that old song to be intriguing. The words, anyway.

We're in a whirlwind of wayward winds at the shop. I'm chomping at the bits to begin holiday decorating. No, I'm not a fan of Halloween, really. As a shop owner for the past twenty years, I prefer skipping it, and moving right into Christmas!

I finished the making of the final two hundred bars of Christmas Soap, and yesterday, Friday the 13th, gave out twenty free Marshmallow Lip Balms at the shop in celebration of the manufacturing feat. Things won't slow down, but it feels good to know I've completed the first round.

Into... Fur rugs, deer antlers, and natural everlasting flowers. Always been into everlasting flowers, but it looks snazzy when you incorporate the dried flowers into the fur, and antlers.

Most often when I launch something new, I test the waters first. Meaning, I make a few and then merchandise the new item's, and see how many are sold, or the comments that roll. The Alice Bracelets are flying out the door! You know the story. Makes me feel happy. A few other new ideas up my sleeve.

We put in our order for holiday wrapping paper. Can't wait to begin wrapping The Twelve Days of Christmas! Beautiful inside, and out.

Oh, and I picked up a snowberry bush at our local home improvement store. That's a picture of the berries when they're fresh, above.